When among the Aztecs a mortal died the 'straw death,' before the corpse the priest uttered these
words: 'Our son, thou art finished with the sufferings and fatigues of this life. It hath pleased our
Lord to take thee hence, for thou hast not eternal life in this world; our existence is as a ray of the
sun. He hath given thee the grace of knowing us and of associating in our common life. Now the
god Mictlancutli and the goddess Mictecaciuatl [Lord and Lady of Hell] have made thee to share
their abode. We shall all follow thee, for it is our destiny, and the abode is broad enough to receive
the whole world. Thou wilt be heard of no longer among us. Behold, thou art gone to the domain
of darkness, where there is neither light nor window. Neither shalt thou come hither again, nor
needst thou concern thyself for thy return, for thine absence is eternal. Thou dost leave thy children
poor and orphaned, not knowing what will be their end nor how they will support the fatigues of this
life. As for us, we shall not delay to go to join thee there where thou wilt be.' Then upon the head
of the body, like another baptism, the priest let fall a few drops of water and beside it placed a bowl
of water: 'Lo, the water of which in this life thou hast made use; this for thy journey.' And like
another Book of the Dead, in due order certain papers were laid upon the mummy-form corpse: 'Lo,
with this thou shalt pass the two dashing mountains. . . . With this thou shalt pass the road where
the serpent awaiteth thee. . . . With this thou shalt pass the lair of the green lizard. Lo, wherewith
thou shalt cross the eight deserts.... And the eight hills....... And behold with what thou canst traverse
the place of the winds that drive with obsidian knives.' Thus the perils of the Underworld Way were
to be passed, and the soul to arrive before Mictlantecutli, whence after four years he should fare
onward until, by the aid of his dog, sacrificed at his grave, he should pass over the Ninefold Stream,
and thence, hound with master, enter into the eternal house of the dead, Chicomemictlan, the Ninth
Hell.
